Wanderings

at 6:46 PM

I spent a couple of hours watching the nest today. Despite the heat and the flies, it was great to see so much activity and hear so much talking. I keep wondering if she will be leaving any day now. I read that it's generally a month after fledging and we're getting pretty close to that. I wonder what they're talking about? Click on picture to enlarge.

at 9:25 AM

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at 3:44 PM

When I was taking the pictures of this hawk, I didn't see the mouse until I got home and zoomed in a bit. Click on picture to enlarge.

at 3:37 PM

We spent a little time watching Herons today at the dam. There must be good fishing there. We saw five or six lined up with equal space between them. These two did a bit of a dance when one came a little too close to the other. Click on picture to enlarge.

at 3:35 PM

After all the storms we've had lately, it was nice to see this amazing sunset last night after a thunderstorm. Click on picture to enlarge.

at 4:36 PM

It's a very hot afternoon. I stopped by the nest to see Scraggles and Mom taking it easy. Click on picture to enlarge.

at 5:31 AM

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at 2:44 PM

After a hot and steamy wait, I was pleased to see Scraggles return to the nest today. Sometimes I miss the fly-in because I'm watching the nest instead of looking in all the directions she might come in from. This time, I was ready. Instead of watching the nest, I watched out over the corn field. Sure enough, she came flying in, grackles in hot pursuit. I'm not sure why they chase her, but almost every time she comes in over the corn field, they're after her. She was talking a great deal as they dove at her. She flew up to the nest, then back down where I was before going back to the nest. Thank you Scraggles for the fly-by. Click on pictures to enlarge.

at 12:31 PM

I stopped by the nest on my way home from the dentist today. I saw one of the parents on a tree nearby. I figured the other parent and Scraggles (as we have been calling her) would show up soon. I was not disappointed. Scraggles came soaring across the corn field and landed in a tree near the nest. A couple of minutes later, a parent followed, carrying lunch.

at 10:29 AM

Is she not fabulous! Click on picture to enlarge.

at 10:15 AM

After the scary storms last night, we couldn't wait to get out this morning and check on our eagle family. Everyone seemed fine and we were treated to a flight from the eaglet we lovingly refer to as "Scraggles." I also saw a belted kingfisher, but I wasn't quick enough with the camera. Click on pictures to enlarge.

at 10:05 PM

at 9:30 PM

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at 5:15 PM

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at 5:04 PM

We didn't see any flying at the nest today, but it was very windy this morning. A man drove up and told us that she flies out in the afternoon, runs around in the field, then flies back up to the nest. We checked in later and she wasn't on the nest, but we saw both parents on a low branch much further back from the nest. We have strong storms moving in and are hoping they have picked a safe place to ride it out. Click on picture to enlarge.

at 3:03 PM

We don't really know she is a girl, but hey, we think she ought to be. We were last at the nest on Saturday and she wasn't flying (as far as we knew). This morning, she made three short flights while we were there. We gasped and cried when she took off the first time. What a beautiful gift. While she might have put her landing gear down a little prematurely, she made three impressive landings. Click on the pictures to enlarge.